Waqa is ready for national duties if needed

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua lock forward Etonia Waqa reveals that he is available for Flying Fijians selections if needed by the coaches.

While speaking to fijivillage News, Waqa says he will surely be available if they need him in the national squad, but for now, he is focused on the upcoming Shop N Save Super Rugby season next year.

The 24-year-old also shared how playing the sport has helped him support his family especially his mother and his four siblings.

Waqa says it hasn’t been an easy journey all along and he has had to overcome some obstacles to get to where he is today.

He says one of the main obstacles he faced in his rugby journey was being away from his family.

Waqa says not having his family by his side for a few years was something he needed to endure to achieve the goal that he had set.

He says growing up, he always loved playing soccer back in primary school.

Waqa then later moved to Queen Victoria School where he took up rugby before being offered a rugby scholarship to attend Saint Kentigern College in Auckland.

He later joined Bay of Plenty Steamers in the Mitre 10 Cup competition in New Zealand before being signed up by the Fijian Drua.

Standing at 196cm tall, the lock forward says he is now working on putting on a bit more weight and he is focusing on what the Super Rugby Pacific competition next year has in store.

Last season, Waqa played a total of 6 games for the Fijian Drua after being called into the squad as an injury replacement, and now he will be looking to stamp his mark next season.

Meanwhile, the Fijian Drua will take on the Blues in their first 2024 Super Rugby Pacific game on the 24th of February in Auckland.